Need some honest opinion on SBL

Posted by: silklee on 07 June 2003

A used SBL seems to be on the way for me.

If i get the SBL, my full system will be as follows.

CD5/202/200 on my pARTicular. LP12 (FR14 arm plus shure M95 cartridge) on my M**a reference table.

Questions that spring to my mind.

Will it become mulletish?

Will my relatively weak sources be ruthlessly revealed?

Will the new Naim (202/200) go well with the SBL?

Is the 200 enough to drive the SBL in a 4m by 3m room?

My present ES14 booms in my room, will the SBL have the same problem?

I dont think i can arrange a home trial though i will be able to listen to it at my dealer's hopefully on the cd5/202/200.

Please advise.

Posted on: 11 June 2003 by graphoman

I love my SBLs but I think they work optimal only with front ends like a) Linn, b) CDS (from 1 up). In systems like that you may hear another bass fundament.

J.N. said:
“It is of course best to re-seal them, when you are happy with their final resting place” etc.

I find the main problem with SBLs is not the silicone sealing but rather to position the upwards spikes optimally. Just not too deep. And you may check your speaker pair. Do they really have the same timbre?

graphoman

Posted on: 12 June 2003 by silklee

Graphoman,

What do you mean by "....rather to position the upwards spikes optimally. Just not too deep. And you may check your speaker pair. Do they really have the same timbre?..."

Posted on: 12 June 2003 by graphoman

the sbl’s construction is nothing short of congenial. In essence, it’s a normal steel speaker stand with the ususal upward directed spikes on the top. They hold a bookshelf-type speaker. The bottom of the box is opened. There is a second, bigger box that is fastened around the stand, and this one is opened on its top.

Now the two boxes are matched via the silicon sealing. But statically it’s the four spikes that hold the speaker box. There are 4 little aluminium pads (some 1 mm thick) sticked to the bottom of the speaker box, and the spikes should pierce through the pads just with their peaks, not deeper! That’s the main problem when moving the speaker, not the silicon sealing.

I repeat, construction is congenial but installation is rather fussy. (I think that’s why Naim Audio ceases to deal with constructions like that.) There is little guarrantee that you succeed in installing the two set of sbls by the same degree of precision. My ones are never equal.

Even so, I like this speaker.

graphoman

Posted on: 13 June 2003 by silklee

I think i got to say a bit more about the SBL.

Its nothing i have heard before. Transparency, PRaT, punch, kick, tightness, speed and it is all tied up in a musical way.

Thanks to all who adviced me to give it a try. Also got to thank my dealer for finding a used SBL for me.

And yes, it has been the best upgrade for me.

Posted on: 13 June 2003 by bjorne

Silklee, is the boom gone? If so, that shows how different loudspeakers work in different rooms. Congratulations!

Posted on: 13 June 2003 by silklee

quote:
Originally posted by bjorne:
Silklee, is the boom gone? If so, that shows how different loudspeakers work in different rooms. Congratulations!

Most of the boom is gone. The little that is left is not affecting the music.

I am rediscovering my LPs and CDs all over again. The music seems to have taken a whole new dimension.

Posted on: 13 June 2003 by David Ng

Silk,

Congrats !! When can I pop by for a bit of Metallica?

"Saint Anger round my neck..."

david

Posted on: 14 June 2003 by silklee

quote:
Originally posted by David Ng:
Silk,

Congrats !! When can I pop by for a bit of Metallica?

"Saint Anger round my neck..."

david

Anytime man.. just give me a call..

Posted on: 16 June 2003 by JosephR

quote:
Originally posted by silklee:
Its nothing i have heard before. Transparency, PRaT, punch, kick, tightness, speed and it is all tied up in a musical way.

And yes, it has been the best upgrade for me.

Congrats, they are one of the better speakers around

It will only get better as you go higher up the Naim ladder.

Posted on: 17 June 2003 by Rico

ahhhh - the SBL captivates another listener.

Congrats Silklee, enjoy the music.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 17 June 2003 by Jay

quote:
ahhhh - the SBL captivates another listener.

Silklee - I think Mr Rico is referring to my good self who has also come into possession of SBL's. The word "transformation" springs to mind for some reason

Enjoy.

Jay

Yeah...well it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Posted on: 17 June 2003 by Frank Abela

Silklee,

If there's a little boom, wait for them to settle and if it's still there, then you may need to move them slightly (very slightly) away from the wall to get the right snap and focus. I'm sure you're already getting much more than the ES14 was capable of giving you but SBLs really don't boom so there is a little improvement to be had yet in your room.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Posted on: 18 June 2003 by Rico

well actually Jay I was in fact referring to Mr Lee after I read through the annotations of his journey - far be it for me to help your cat flee the bag!

Still, with that firmly out of hand, prey tell continue

SBL's anyone?

Rico

and before anyone mentions "marketing" they're no longer marketed, ok?

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 23 June 2003 by silklee

The SBL has settled in nicely. Especially since i add a hicap to the 202.

I think the speakers will stay with me for a loooonnnnnngggg llooooonnnnggg time.

Posted on: 23 June 2003 by ajalden

Hi Silklee,

You have the same system as mine but I use the Hi-Cap on the CD5 as I had this set-up before the 200/202 but I did try the Hi-Cap on the 202 but just preferred the added weight the Hi-Cap gave to the CD5 then on the 202.

Excellent system, I'm just trying to keep away from this Forum as much as possible as I know a CDX2 is calling!.....

Rgds, Andy

Posted on: 23 June 2003 by silklee

ajalden,
I also tried the hicap on the 202 and the cd5. In my experience, the hicap on the 202 gave more bass weight and body to the music, whereas the hicap on the cd5 only gave me more details. so i put it on the 202.

And i also have a vinyl source so i thought the hicap on the 202 would reap more benefits.

Anyway I MUST STOP UPGRADING.

Posted on: 23 June 2003 by leeto

Correction. It should be...
I MUST STOP UPGRADING MY HIFI SISTEM.

One should always upgrade oneself especially financially so that one can afford a 952/900 in the future.

quote:
Originally posted by silklee:

Anyway I MUST STOP UPGRADING.

[This message was edited by leeto on MONDAY 23 June 2003 at 15:28.]

Posted on: 23 June 2003 by Emil

SBL For Sale

What do you guys think of these?
Im currently bidding on a pair of Mystiques or should I strongly look into these?

Naim CD5/ Flatcap2/ Nait 5

Posted on: 15 July 2003 by Gromit

I am running the SBL with the same system as yours. Could definitely use more power but it works very well. Had it when I was running CDS1, 102, 250 (with all the power supplies necessary). When I downgraded, it was the only component I kept. I am very glad I did. IMHO, for the money, no other speaker comes close.

quote:
Originally posted by Emil:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1061261983

What do you guys think of these?
Im currently bidding on a pair of Mystiques or should I strongly look into these?

Naim CD5/ Flatcap2/ Nait 5